Cartridge extractors



Oct. 1, 1957 CARTRIDGE ExTRAcToRs Filed April 18. 1954 4/37 FIGI.

R. V.1. KoPF 2,807,902

United sttttts Pattttt ofifitt CARTRIDGE EXTRACTORS Rowland J. Kopf,Rocky River, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Olin MathiesonChemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Application April 16,1954, Serial No. 423,650 7 Claims. (Cl. 42-25) This invention relatesgenerally to cartridge extractors and is `drected more specifically tothe provision of an improved claw extractor.

In powder-actuated tools, the explosive energy of a blank cartridge isused to operate the tool, a common application being that of driving afastener. Although conventional cartridges are employed, frequently thebreech pressures are extremely high and, indeed, approach values thatwould be regarded as proof loads for firearms. Under such conditions,considerable difficulty is encountered in providing for reliableextraction.

In many applications, it is desirable to use a claw extractor, onereason being that this type of extractor is adapted for bolt actions,which inherently possess high strength. Heretofore, such claw extractorshave been simple, reslient members or pivoted members springbiasedinwardly, the bias being relied upon to hold the claw in engagement withthe rim of the case. If the Cartridge case does not slide readily fromthe chamber, however, this bias may be inadequate to prevent the clawfrom pulling over the rim of the case.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improvedextracting mechanism of simple, inexpensive, but rugged, constructionfor powder-actuated tools and other apparatus utilizing high-poweredcartridges. Among the more specific objects of the invention will benoted the provision of an extractor that is readily assembled andreplaced; the provision of an extractor that automatically engagesbehind the rim of a Cartridge upon closure of the breech; and theprovision of an extractor that is positively locked to the Cartridge rimduring opening of the breech.

Briefly, the extractor herein disclosed is adapte'd to be mounted upon abreech block or bolt which is opened axially. T'he extractor is a rigid,fioating member carried on the bolt and mounted for relative movementaxially between predctermined advanced and retracted positions. Whilethe extractor is radially displaceable and includes a claw which ridesover and engages behind the rim of the case upon forward movement of thebolt and extractor, such radial displacement is permitted only when theextractor is in its retracted position. The bolt includes an outer ledgecooperating with the front portion of the extractor to lock it againstradial displacement when in advanced position relative to the bolt.Otherwise, the bolt may carry an encircling spring element which engagesthe outer face of the extractor, thereby to permit lateral displacementof the extractor as the claw rides over the rim of the case and to forcethe claw into locking engagement with the rim as the breech is closedwith the extractor in its retracted position. The tail or rear portionof the extractor is shaped to permit such tipping or radial displacementof the claw when the extractor is in its retracted position relative tothe bolt.

Other features of the invention will be in part apparent from and inpart pointed out in the following de- 2,807,902` Patented Oct. 1, 1957tail description taken in connection with the accompanying `drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating 'parts of a powderactuated toolembodying this invention, the breech being open;

Fig. 2 is an oblique detail view, portions of the bolt being cut away toexpose the breech of the barrel;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the positions ofparts as the breech is closed;

Fig. 4 is a view sirnilar to that of Fig. 1, but with the breech closed;p

Fig. 5 is a view sirnilar to that of Fig. Il, showing positions of partsas the breech is opened; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

As an exemplary application of the invention, in Fig. l there is shown apowder-actuated tool used to drive a fastening element 1 into material,such as concrete, which is otherwise difficult to penetrate. A barrelassembly 3 and a receiver assembly generally designated 5 are arrangedto be broken for breech loading. In the barrel assembly 3, there is abarrel 7 which is mounted for axial movement within a housing 9. Abreech block or bolt 11 is mounted within a receiver 13, an'd the boltis recessed or counterbored at 15 to receive the breech of the barrel intelescoping relationship after insertion of a Cartridge 17.

Fig. l illustrates an unlocked breech type of construction, but itshould be understood that safety devices could be provided to preventthe tool from being fired with the breech open. For example, in thecopending application Serial No. 335,034, filed May 14, 1953, an'd nowabandoned, of which I am a joint inventor, there is disclosed mechanismwhich prevents the tool from being fired without first pressing themuzzle 19 of the barrel against the work surface. When pressure isapplied to the tool, the barrel 7 is moved rear'wardly within itshousing 9 into closing engagement with the bolt 11, the bolt 11 thenbeing carried back to release the safety and arm the tool. The detailsof such Safety mechanism do not form a part of this invention, hence arenot disclosed.

In the above-mentioned application, a removable breech plug is recessedwithin the barrel to hold the Cartridge case. After firing, this plugtisremoved from the barrel and pressed over a stud to eject the spentshell. In reloading, the plug is reinserted and a Cartridge loaded, butsuch extracting and loa'ding procedures are necessarily time-consurning,hence the desirability of providing an extractor. Extractors asheretofore known, however, are not suited for the heavy service to which:a powder-actuated tool is put.

The mechanism disclosed herein includes a rigid claw extractor element21, which fioats within a recess 23 milled in the outer portion of thebolt. The front wall 25 of this recess is located back from the front 27of the bolt but is located forwardly of the bottom 29 of the counterbore15, an opening thus being provided into the counterbore. A claw 31formed at the forward end of the extractor enters the counterborethrough this opening, and a recess 33 is milled in the breech of thebarrel 7 to accommodate the claw 31 when the breech is closed. This clawis rounded to ride over and engage behind the rim of the case as thebreech is closed.

As shown in Fig. 1, the extractor 21 is of a longitudinal dimensionslightly less than that of the recess 23, and tapers in a forwarddirection. At its forward end above the claw 31, a shoulder 35 is formedin alignment with the wall of the counterbore 15 so that the extractoris movable relative to the bolt between advanced and retractedpositions. In its retracted position, the extractor is radiallydisplaceable as the claw rides over the rim 3 i of the case; and in itsadvanced position, the shoulder 35 locks under the shoulder 25 of thebolt, thereby preventing radial. displacement of the claw.

` lMovemento'between advanced and retracted positions is limited byengagement of thelextractor 21with, the front and :rear-walls of therecess 23. *The tail or rear portion'f36 of the extractor is canted,however,rso that the extractor may tip or pivot back as the claw ridesover the rim of the case. It is also desirable to provide extractorbiasing means in the form of` a split ring 39, which is iecessedwithin.a groove 37 encircling the bolt.

i 'This ring engages-the outer face 41Vof the extractor so .thattheextractoris .biased inwardly and will engage behind the rim of the caseas the bolt is closed. In closing the'bolt','the-extractor'is forcedrearwardlyV to its retracted position by initial engagement with theCartridge case, and the spring member 39 yields to permit the claw 317to 'ride Vover the rim.

I Thev outer face 417of the extractor may be tapered forwardly, asillustrated, so as to develop a wedging cooperation with the springelement 39, which also limits forward ,movement of the extractor withinits recess and to some extent prevents radial displacement of theextractor when in its advanced position.

' 'fIn operation,4 the Cartridge 17 is loaded with the tool broken. Thereceiver barrel assembly 2 is then swung into alignmentV with thereceiver assembly 5 and connected thereto by suitable means (not shown),so that Vthe barrel 7 is aligned with the counterbore 15- of the bolt.When 'pressure is then applied t-o the muzzle 19 of therbarrel,

the breech portion of the barrel telescopes within the counterbore 15 toclose the breech. As the breech is closed, the extractor is moved to'its retracted position .and rides over the rim of the case, as' shown inFig. 37.

When the breech is closed and the tool armed, the extractor'isengagedbehind the r'im of the case, as shown in lFig.4.

Subs'equently, as the breech is opened, the extractor is Vmoved to itsadvanced position by the inherent resistance'of the ,case to extraction(Fig. 5). In moving to its advanced position, the vshoulder 35 'of theextractor engages beneath lthe Vinnerrwall of the'bolt and the extractorbecomes4 positively 'locked against radial displacement; Beinglocked,Vthe clawcannot slip over the rim should the case tend to stick .in thechamber.

' 'In the embodiment of-Figs. 1-5, the recess 33 in the barrel would be)maintained "in alignment with the extractor, -as by splines (not shown).In some instances, it maybe desi'rable -toprovide for a locked breechtype of construco '-tion. Referring to Fig. 67; the barrel is providedwith locking 'lugs 51, which'engage with similar lugs 53 on the boltupon relative rotation. In 'this instance, however, provision must bemade Vfor rotary movement of the extractor relative'to `the bolt or'barreL' To that end, either the recess 33 in the barrel may be widened,as Vshown in Fig. 6, or the recess 23 in the bolt may be widened in asimilar manner, so that the extractor may move radially. Also, insteadof the tail 136 of the extractor being canted, the back 138 of therecess 35 may slope rearwardly as shown in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the extractor dis'closedprovides for a positive locking engagement with the rim of a Cartridge,yet the structure is simple in construction and troublefree inoperation. Although several embodiments haverbeen disclsed -in detail,it is to be understoodethat the invention is not limited thereto, butthedrawings and Vdescription thereof are to be understood as beingmerely illustrative. It is realized ,that many modifications andvariations will present themselves to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit Vof ,this invention or the scope thereof asset forth infthe appended claims.v

Having thus described the invention, what is Claimed and desirerdtobesecured by Letters Patent is:

1. 'In cartridge-firing apparatus having a barrel for receiving acartridge, a breech block mounted for axial movement relative to thebarrel, and an extractor carried o by the breech block; the improvementthat comprises said extractor being guided for movement relative to thebreech block in a directin parallel to the axis of the barrel, a firststop formed on the breech block to limit rearward movement of theextractor relative to the breech block, said extractor having 'a'forwardly-disposed claw shaped to ride over the rim of arcartridge withthe extractor Vengaged against said first stop as thei'breech isclosedy.

sprin g means for biasing the claw radially inward into grippingengagement with the rim, a Vsecond stop formed on the breech block tolimit forward movement of the extractor relative to the breech lock, andsaid breech blockbeing formed with inwardly-facing shoulder means whichVlocks the claw Vof the extractor in gripping engagement with the rimonly Vwhen the extractor is engaged against said second stop, saidextractor beingmovable'fromith'e first to the vsecond stop with theclawrin gripping engagement with the rim. I o i i 2. In cartridge-firingapparatushaving a -barrel for r'eceiving .a Cartridge, a breech blockmounted foraxial movement relative to the barrel, and an extractorcarriedV by the breech block; the improvement that comprises saidVbreech block being formed with a guide slot, said extractor `beingreceived in said slot for movement in a direction parallel to the axisof the barrel between front and rear positions relative to the Vbreechblock, said slot terminating in a rearV stop having a pivotalCooperation with the 'tail of the. extractor, said extractor having anintegral forwardly-disposed' claw VshapedV to ride over the rim of aV-cartridgewith the tail of the extractor engaged against saidrearstopras the zbreech' is closed, spring means biasing the clawportion of the extractor` radially inward intorgripping engagement withthe rim, saidV guideA slot in part terminating in a forwardV stopcooperable withthe extractor and vbeing4 for-med with an'inwardly-facing shoulder cooperable withvapart Vof Vthe extractor whenthe extractor 'is in-its front position said shoulderbeing adapted.to'lock the claw in grippingV engagement with i the rim-onlyrwhen theextractor is in'its front position,

,said 'extratcorzbeing movable in'i'tsV guide `slot VfromV therearrto't-he forward stop with the claw in gripping engagement'withlthefrim. v o ,i v3.-Appara-t-us as set forth m claim 2, wherein thevstantial ;thickness en'circlingrthe breech block and in part oengaging' :said extractor. i i

5. 4Apparatus as set Iforth in :claim 4, wherein the'outer face of :saidextractor tapers Vinwardly in a forward direction," thereby to developaiwedging Cooperation with i said ringupo'n forward movement'of l.theextractorV relative to'zthelbreechvblockrj r 6. 'Apparatus as set forthin :claimV 5,' 'wherein said V Vri'ngis` recessed within.a'fgroovelencircling the breech' block; 'saidbreechg block being'contained in 'an encircling honsing wh`i`ch limits outward'displacemcnt,of said ring.

' 7,..Appa'ratu's `asset'tforthlin claim 2, Vwhere-in 'said slot-terminates in` aliack'7 wall -forming said Vrear stop, said ;backVwallland ;the `.tail portionoftsaid extractorV being substant'iallydive'rgent'frorn v:onezanotherin an outward direction, thereby topermit'said vextractor to tip backv wardly within said slot'v's1the"c1aw. ridesV over the rim ofthe'rcartiidge case.: e

(References Von following page) i 5 References Cited in the file of thispatent l,041,410 UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 1101336 410,621 Weatherby Sept.10, 1889 580,935 Ehbets Apr. 20, 1897 r' 617 142 804,699 Benet et alNov. 14, 1905 y 6 Benet et al. Oct. 15, 1912 Burton Dec. 7, 1937 FOREIGNPATENTS Great Britain Feb. 1, 1949

